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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

DD 18 weeks, EBF - think shows weaning signs

40 replies

christiana · 23/10/2009 09:12

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pippel · 23/10/2009 09:19

Its probably a growth spurt, she doesn't sound ready for solids.

the dribbling could be the beginning of teething, and babies do put their hands in their mouth just because they put everything they can in their mouth.

I would wait at least a couple of weeks, you could start her on baby rice if you wanted but it has less calories than milk on its own so if shes hungry shes better off on just milk.

NotQuiteCockney · 23/10/2009 09:21

This sounds like teething to me, or maybe a growth spurt, as pippel says, not signs she's ready for weaning.

When she's ready for solids, she'll be sitting up unaided, using the pincer grip, and losing the tongue reflex.

Well done on the EBF, sorry to hear she's unhappy. Babies are mysterious weird little critters, and often unhappy for their own reasons.

Original poster
christiana · 23/10/2009 15:47

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pippel · 23/10/2009 16:23

yes that's a pincer grip. Those are the signs for a baby being ready for weaning recognised by the world health organisation I believe.

tiktok · 23/10/2009 16:48

pippel - have you got a reference for the WHO listing readiness signs? This doesn't sound like the sort of thing they do, to be honest...they are pretty clear about 6 mths being the recommended time for exclusive breastfeeding, but they don't really 'do' the minutiae of development. But if you can link to somewhere they say this then bring it on

OP:very few babies need solid foods at 18 weeks. The signs you're listing are really signs of 'being 18 weeks' though can't explain the 'rrrrrrrr' sound you describe except to say it is not listed anywhere as a sign for solids

pippel · 23/10/2009 17:59

no I just thought that's where that came from, Im more than happy to be corrected if Im wrong though

tiktok · 23/10/2009 18:03

It's ok, pippel.....I am pretty sure I am right that they have never pronounced on it

Thing is, WHO don't really 'speak' to individual parents/carers about individual 'management' or care of their individual kids. They're more concerned with giving governments, NGOs, professional organisations an evidence-base for policies on public health.

Original poster
christiana · 24/10/2009 12:01

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tiktok · 24/10/2009 12:10

christiana - 'early solids' babies usually have a longish history of being v. difficult to feed, and solids are turned to as last resort, as a means of getting something, anything, into them.

BertieBotts · 24/10/2009 12:13

I think sitting unaided just means "can sit upright in a highchair for longer than about 10 minutes without flopping or slumping over". DS couldn't sit unaided until 9 months. Then again he still doesn't eat much at one so maybe he was just a late developer both ways!

Have you heard of BLW? I think whether or not you feel comfortable starting BLW is a good indicator of whether they are ready.

Original poster
christiana · 24/10/2009 12:14

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sambo2 · 24/10/2009 12:57

Hi Christiana,

I totally understand your predicament and my DS was a silent reflux baby too.

To be honest, you are not going to get support on MN to wean before 6 months, especially when it comes to your exhasution/frustration. I am forever bewildered by the unhelpful and often rude comments (not yet on this thread, thankfully ) when mum's come on here asking for early weaning advice.

If you are looking for support, I would suggest talking to your GP - they are medical and can perhaps give you the reassurance you are seeking. But, FWIW, there is no evidence to suggest early weaning causes allergies and introducing a 'solid' diet, in addition to milk (not to replace it!), will help a lot with the discomfort of reflux. I was very concerned about starting early and sought the advice of a paed-dietician + paed. They actively encouraged that he was weaned and he was 17 weeks old.

God luck with what you decide

sambo2 · 24/10/2009 12:58

Good luck

Original poster
christiana · 24/10/2009 14:29

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shuffle · 25/10/2009 09:51

Hi there,
Your situation sounds very similar to mine. Same signs,even noises, my baby also had silent reflux and was on gavisgon and it was heartbreaking watching him in pain when feeding him and he was miserable and unable to settle most of the time.
I made the decision to wean early, with advice from various health prof and family and never looked back.
Was the beginning of the end of silent reflux, a much happier,contented baby who slept for 8 hours within 2 days(prev been 2 hours). The noises and signs stopped after 1 day which made me question the growth spurt theory (for my baby).
No this isnt the government guideline answer but this was my experience.
Its not an easy decision and getting lots of advice helped. Good luck whatever you do.

ShowOfHands · 25/10/2009 10:03

Your baby is showing none of the signs of needing solids.

The guidelines pertain to the average child and most babies will absolutely fine to the middle of the first year on milk alone and this is really the sensible and best route.

However, some babies will need solids earlier in cases like those described by tiktok where there is a history of medical and feeding problems and the food is necessary for the welfare of the child. In these cases it is not possible for and is indeed wrong for MN to advise and this should be done under proper medical guidance.

FWIW, I don't see feeding every 2-3hrs, needing attention and fussiness as anything other than normal for an 18 week old and true signs of weaning readiness are nothing to do with noises or sleep patterns or frequent milk feeds.

Original poster
christiana · 25/10/2009 13:14

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ScreamingMormolykeia · 25/10/2009 13:20

I'd say that was teething and the 18-20 week growth spurt, it's quite intense, but is just a growth spurt and she will settle again in a week or so. Just hang in there, dribbling and hand chewing are not signs of food readiness, sitting un-aided and picking food up and putting it in her mouth, chewing and swallowing are! Baby rice is just wallpaper paste, all filler, no calories, a waste of time!!

Original poster
christiana · 25/10/2009 13:27

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Original poster
christiana · 25/10/2009 13:29

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ShowOfHands · 25/10/2009 13:51

It is not possible for us to tell you whether your child is one that would be harmed by early weaning. The important question is would your child be harmed by waiting to wean?

My cousin (and very good friend) has a little boy who is 7 months who had/has silent reflux to answer your question. I therefore cannot comment on silent reflux with any authority whatsoever.

My dd who didn't have any silent reflux/allergies/intolerances and in fact was and is extremely robust fed at least every 2hrs, slept badly, needed lot of attention, chewed her hands, dribbled. All normal. She went through a growth spurt around 4/5 months that lasted a few weeks and was a lot of hard work. I always took the view that I might not be able to change the baby I was given, nor would I want to but I could make every conceivable change to make my life easier so asking for help, sleeping whenever I could, ignoring the housework etc.

Like I said only a medical professional can advise you on whether there is a medical need to wean your child early.

I do sympathise. I cannot imagine doing it with an older child too. It's a lot of hard work.

Phoenix · 25/10/2009 13:57

Hi Christiana, no advice but pop back over to the post natal thread to say hi if you get a minute

charliebrownsmum · 25/10/2009 14:38

Hi my dd is 23 weeks and i have started to wean her this week. She has been displaying all of the same signs as your dd. She is EBF too and i went from feeding every 3-4 hours to every 2 hours sometimes less, and she was taking both breasts.
If i was eating something while holding her she was literally grabbing the food to put it in her mouth.
She was also only sleeping for 30 mins or so in the day and waking up starving having previously done 1-2 hour sleeps.
I spoke to my HV a few weeks ago about it as she was like this from around 18 weeks aswell and she advised me to hang on till 22 weeks which i did.
She is so much better already. I am only giving her some baby cereal in the morning and pureed veg in the evening but that is making such a difference. She is a lot more content and sleeping better in the day, so i think sometimes you should go with what is best for you, your baby and the rest of the family.
i know i'll be shot down for saying that. Best of luck

Original poster
christiana · 25/10/2009 14:45

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shuffle · 25/10/2009 17:11

Screaming mormolykeia - The fact that baby rice is a filler is actually what helped with silent reflux. The density of the rice mixed with ebm meant that it did not travel back up which in turn stopped the pain so not really a waste of time in my experience.

Show of hands - your points regarding signs of readiness for weaning are just that- your opinion. Its unfair to say that mn should not comment if they have an alternative view or experience. As a general point I could find reams of valid research on the dangers/risks of co-sleeping yet it is actively encouraged on this site.

As I said on previous post its not an easy decision to make and advice from health prof really helped me.

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